According to Variety, Gibson will topline "Edge of Darkness," a Martin Campbell directed adaptation of the acclaimed Martin Campbell directed miniseries, which aired on the BBC in 1985.

The trade paper says that Oscar-winning "Departed" scribe William Monahan has done a full repeat on the project, which will begin shooting in Boston in August.

Gibson will play a police detective who witnesses the death of his activist daughter. As he investigates the circumstances of her murder, he starts to unravel one of those pesky conspiracies that go all the way to the top.

Graham King is producing and self-financing the drama.

Gibson's last major acting roles were 2002's "Signs" and "We Were Soldiers." From there, the "Braveheart" Oscar winner turned his attentions to generating controversy either through his directing efforts (the mega-blockbuster "Passion of the Christ" and the somewhat less successful "Apocalypto") or his DUI busts, subsequent anti-Semitic rants and lengthy string of apologetic personal appearances.